The sculptures of Rose Nestler do more than just stand still. The multidisciplinary artist (her practice includes sculpture, video, and installation) has a keen focus on societal expectations and the intricate relationships between individuals and familiar objects, Nestler's artistic approach breathes new meaning into well-known items by infusing them with a prevailing feminine authority. Notably, her fabric sculptures predominantly take the form of oversized, anthropomorphized clothing, accessories, artefacts, and tools. Through intentional choices of forms and materials, Nestler deftly highlights and subverts the gendered and clichéd stereotypes that shape and impact the experiences of those who interact with these objects.
Her transformative process involves reinterpreting symbolic garments and objects as larger-than-life soft sculptures and wall hangings that skillfully navigate the realms of humour, shame, and pride. Through this approach, she reclaims traditionally patriarchal institutions by reimagining them as spaces infused with a feminine essence. In addition to her sculptures, Nestler incorporates video as a medium to document her performances, capturing the physical relationship she establishes with her artwork. These visual narratives explore the interplay between sexuality and asexuality, delving into the intricate emotions inherent in both states. By embracing this duality, Nestler aims to foster the creation of forms and characters that embody a fluid or neutral gender identity, evoking sensations of sensuality and discomfort simultaneously.
Rose Nestler (b. 1983 in Spokane, Washington) holds an MFA from Brooklyn College and BA in Art History from Mount Holyoke College. Nestler has exhibited in the United States and internationally, including solo and group exhibitions at Public Gallery, London, UK; König Galerie, Berlin, Germany; Projet Pangée, Montreal, QC, Canada; BRIC, Brooklyn, NY; Hesse Flatow and Perrotin, New York, NY. She was an artist in residence at the Joan Mitchell Center in New Orleans in 2022. Nestler has also conducted residencies at The Fores Project, London, UK, and The Lighthouse Works, Fishers Island, NY, among others. Her work has been featured in the Brooklyn Rail, BOMB magazine, Hyperallergic, The Art Newspaper, Artnet, New York Magazine, and Art21, among others. The artist lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 / Nada Art Fair, Mrs., Miami
2022 / Slippery Yoke, Carvalho Park, Brooklyn
2022 / too bad for heaven, too good for hell, Mrs., Maspeth
2021 / Flex Point, PUBLIC Gallery, London
2021 / Allegory for the Muse, presented by Projet Pangée, NADA House, Governors Island
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 / Snakes in the Grass, Newchild, Antwerp
2023 / Stuffed, Boston University Art Galleries, Boston
2023 / Spring, Primary Projects, Miami
2023 / Felix Art Fair, Mrs., Los Angeles
2022 / Symbiosis, Berkshire Botanical Garden, curated by Beth R. DeWoody, Stockbridge
2022 / A Few Small Nips, Mrs., Maspeth
2022 / The Shape of Things, Swivel Gallery, New York
2022 / Late Night Enterprise, Perrotin, New York